Ahaphia Zepp

Ahaphia Zepp (ne Andrejchuk) was born July 17, 1927 and passed away peacefully on February 25th, 2026. She lived a long and full life, reaching the ripe age of 98 years in the July before her passing. Ahaphia was born in Rhein, Saskatchewan to parents William and Anna (Glute) Andrejchuk, both Ukrainian immigrants. They brought her up with a pride and respect for her Ukrainian heritage and instilled in her a strong Catholic faith. Ahaphia spoke often and fondly of her childhood, carrying with her a vault of memories that did not dim through the years and repetitions of their telling. She was one of ten children in the family and spent much of her childhood caring for her younger siblings, and helping on the farm and in the kitchen. Ahaphia faithfully attended school and loved learning. Sadly, her academic pursuits were put on hold for decades after she turned 16, when her own mother passed away at a young age and Ahaphia turned her dedication to helping her father with household tasks. 

On June 13, 1948 Ahaphia married John 'Jack' Peter Zepp. They farmed for 18 years and during that time welcome to their family 4 children: John 'Jack', Norman, James 'Jimmy', and Anna Marie. It was not an easy life for Ahaphia but she would be the first to tell you she never complained. And she likely didn't. As with many of the numerous hardships Ahaphia faced in her life, her family watched her meet them with strength and fortitude. After the kids were nearly grown, Jack and Ahaphia eventually moved off the farm and into Yorkton in 1966. In the ensuing years they were involved in numerous occupations including, but certainly not limited to, managing the Yorkton Airport and the Western Development Museum. During this time Ahaphia did eventually return to school, taking evening courses in bookkeeping. And through her entire life she kept her brain sharp and intelligence high by staying up-to-date on current events and politics. 

Ahaphia loved the years they spent at Spiritwood Acres in the 1990s, near Good Spirit Lake, where they would spend summer days golfing and gardening, and winter days cross-country skiing and splitting and stacking wood to fuel their wood-burning stove, the heat source for their beloved home off the 9th hole of the golf course. They loved their fur babies and during their time at Spiritwood Acres they had up to six cats at once. Their children, daughter-in-laws, and grandchildren fondly remember the time they spent there, loved, comforted and well-fed by Ahaphia's good care and incredible perogy and cabbage roll making talents. She also loved to knit and was a skilled creator of blankets, sweaters, mittens, and oh, so many socks! She would knit and donate socks by the dozen, with a lifetime sock donation count nearing the thousands without a doubt.

Jack and Ahaphia eventually moved back to Yorkton, and in their later years, owing to the desire to be closer to family, settled in Saskatoon in 2004. Saskatoon was a city that Ahaphia loved. She lived in Luther Tower for many years, one of her favourite homes, moved to Trinity Manor in Regina for a short 18-month stint in late 2024, and gladly returned to Saskatoon in August 2025 where she lived her final months at a Care Home and eventually passed in February in the Palliative Care Ward at St. Paul's Hospital. Ahaphia was predeceased by her parents, William and Anna Andrejchuk, her husband, John 'Jack' Zepp, her son John 'Jack' Zepp, her daughter Anna Marie Zepp, her brothers and sister-in-laws, Peter (Donna) Andrejchuk, Alexander (Sheila) Andrejchuk, Melvin (Diane) Andrejchuk, Eugene (Rhea) Andrejchuk, William (Niki) Andrejchuk, her sisters and brother-in-laws, Olga (Joe) Miller, Stephanie (John) Bodnaryk. Ahaphia is survived by her brother-in-law and sister, Don and Anne Curtin, numerous nieces and nephews, her sons Norman (Judith) Zepp, James Zepp, daughter-in-laws Joanne Zepp and Pam Zepp, grandchildren Julie Zepp, John Ryan (Lyndsey) Zepp, Jeffrey Zepp and Melissa Zepp, great-grandchildren, Liam Simpson, Avery Watters, Madelyn Rutledge and Shea Rutledge.

 A Memorial Celebration of Ahaphia's life will take place in Yorkton in the late spring 2026. Details will be announced when available. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Arrangements entrusted to Prairie View Chapel, 306-242-7884.